As this Sabbath was commendably unmarred by acts of mayhem and
militarism, it offers an opportunity to note the actions of an
unlikely group of war supporters: The American Bible Society. This
group, supported entirely by private donations from individuals and
churches, released a remarkable report today. Less than a year from
the time the War began, they were already to the point where they
were printing, shipping and distributing more than 7,000 copies per
day of the New Testament to soldiers in the field. A soldier was
likely to carry two items of about the same size: his Testament and
a pack of playing cards. One, however, was often found dropped on
the field when fighting started. There was a common belief that
going to meet one’s Maker with gambling paraphernalia on one’s
person did not enhance the chances of the gates of Heaven opening.

Monday Dec. 8 1862DAVIS DETECTING DEFENSIVE DEFICIENCIES

There has never been a general in any army of any nation anywhere in
recorded history who thought he had sufficient men in his army. This
was certainly the case of every army in the Confederate States of
America, and the man in the middle who had to do the juggling act
was President Jefferson Davis. Robert E. Lee had sent another letter
requesting more troops, and Davis wrote back to him today that he
had none to send, and if he did have surplus soldiers, they would
most likely be sent to the Western Theater where the need was
becoming dire. “In Tennessee and Mississippi the disparity between
our armies and those of the enemy is so great as to fill me with
apprehension,” he wrote today. He also mentioned that he was leaving
immediately on a trip West to see what could be done about the
situation.

Tuesday Dec. 8 1863PRESIDENT PROUDLY PROCLAIMS PROGRESS

It was Abraham Lincoln’s turn to offer a State of the Union address
to his Congress today, as it had been Jefferson Davis’ duty to his
yesterday. Lincoln’s message, needless to say, was considerably more
upbeat than his Confederate counterpart’s had been. After the usual
reports on foreign relations (good) and military matters besides the
War (good aside from some difficulties with Indians), he got to the
heart of his message: a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconciliation.
The key provisions of this were that anyone who had participated
“directly or by implication” in the Rebellion against the Union
could return to lawful citizenship simply by taking an oath of
allegiance. Exceptions were military officers who had renounced
their oaths to serve the Confederacy, high-ranking members of the
CSA government, and anyone who had treated Union prisoners of war,
black or white, in an “other than lawful” manner.

Thursday Dec. 8 1864SHERMAN SCORNS SUBTERRANEAN SHELLS

Being unable to muster anything near the manpower to directly give
battle to Gen. William T. Sherman’s army as they marched from
Atlanta to the Sea, desperation forced a resort to weapons both
sides really considered illegal: buried “land torpedoes” which
exploded when stepped on. What would today be called land mines were
considered lawful to use around forts, but not in open roadways.
After Sherman came across a young soldier who had had his foot blown
off by such a mine, he confirmed an order by Maj. Gen. Frank Blair
Jr. that Confederate prisoners should march in the lead to dig up
these bombs. These men protested that they had not buried the bombs
and had no idea where they might be. Sherman, blunt as ever, told
them that if someone had to be blown up, he would rather it be them
than his own men.